Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

African Women and Theatre for Development

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies

  • 185 Accesses

Abstract

Socioeconomic transformations in various societies in Africa led to changes and adaptation of various theatrical forms and genres. Theatre for development is one of them. Theatre for development came as collective efforts of women and men to use theatre to advance development. Women participation in theatre for development is pivotal and significant as they participated not only as characters in the performances but also as members of the audience. The role of women as generators of knowledge in society is evidenced by women participation in producing theatre for development and steering changes from community to international platforms. Regardless of the pervasive dominance of external donors in supporting theatre for development initiatives, external funding cannot overshadow women’s contribution to the development of theatre for development. Women engagement in theatre for development reflects the continuous struggle for equal and just societies where women’s potentials are utilized to the fullest.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bakari, J. A., & Materego, G. R. (2008). Sanaa kwa Maendeleo: Stadi, Mbinu na Mazoezi. Moshi: Viva Productions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boal, A. (2000). The theater of the oppressed. London: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonsall, A. (2017). Chingalire Women’s travelling theatre: Touring with trousers. eSharp: Rise and Fall, 25(2), 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breitinger, E. (1994). Theatre for development. Rossdorf: Verlgesellschaft.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breitinger, E. (2004). A history of theatre in Africa. In M. Banham (Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chachage, C. S., & Chachage, C. S. (2004). Nyerere: Nationalism and post-colonial developmentalism. African Sociological Review, 8(2), 158–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambulikazi, E. (1984). Popular theatre as a form of communication in development. University of Dar es Salaam. Unpublished.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etherton, M. (2004). South Asia’s child rights Theatre for development: The empowerment of children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded. In R. Boon & J. Plastow (Eds.), Theatre and empowerment: Community Drama on stage (pp. 188–218). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyoh, H. N. (1984). Hammocks to bridges: An experience in theatre for development. Yaounde: Yaounde University Research Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiebach, J. (2006). Openness and fluidity. From home popular travelling theatre to home video films in West Africa. Maske und Kothurn, 52(3), 137–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1972). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, S. (1997). TANU women: Gender and culture in the making of Tanganyikan nationalism, 1955–1965. Dar es Salaam: Mkuki na Nyota.

    Google Scholar 

  • Issa, A. A. (2018). Zanzibari women and nationalist struggles (Lecture of Opportunity to Tanzania National Defence College Course Members). Dar es Salaam: Unpublished.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. (2000). Theatre for development project. Providence: Brown University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, D. (1995). African popular theatre: From pre-colonial times to the present day. London: James Currey Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lihamba, A. (1985). Politics and theatre after the Arusha declaration, 1967–1984. Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matchett, S., & Cloete, N. (2015). Performativities as activism: Addressing gender-based violence & rape culture in South Africa & beyond. African Theatre: Contemporary Women 14, 17–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Materego, G. R. (2002). Popular theatre in question: The issue of sustainability. MA Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbilinyi, M., et al. (2003). Activist voices: Feminist struggles for an alternative world. Dar es Salaam: E&D Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbilinyi, M. (2015). Transformative feminism in Tanzania: Animation and grassroots women’s struggles for land and Livelihoods. In R. Baksh & W. Harcourt (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of transnational feminists movements (pp. 507–527). Oxford: Oxford university Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meena, R. (2003). A conversation with Bibi Titi: A political veteran. In M. Mbilinyi, M. Rusimbi, C. S. Chachage, & D. Kitunga (Eds.), Activist voices: Feminist struggles for an alternative world (pp. 140–154). Dar es Salaam: E&D Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mlama, P. (1991). Culture and development: The popular theatre approach to Africa. Uppsala: Scandnavian Institute of African Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyoni, F. P. (2008). Sanaa kwa Maendeleo na Athari za Ufadhili, Tanzania. In Wasanii na Sanaa za Maonesho Mashariki mwa Afrika: Changamoto Katika Karne ya 21 (pp. 169–176). Dar es Salaam: Eastern Africa Theatre Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odhiambo, C. J. (2008). Theatre for development in Kenya: In search of an effective procedure and Methodology. Bayreuth: Bayreuth African Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogutu, S. D., et al. (2003). Women’s voices and African theatre: Case studies from Kenya, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe. Braamfontein, Article 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plastow, J. (1996). African theatre and politics: The evolution of theatre in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe: A comparative study. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, S. L. (2015). Citizen and artist: African women making theatre. African Theatre: Contemporary Women (pp. 1–5).

    Google Scholar 

  • Samba, I. N. (2005). Women in Theatre for development in Cameroon: Participation, contributions and limitations. Bayreuth: Bayreuth African Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schininà, G. (2004). Here were are; social theatre and some open questions about its developments. The Drama Review, 48(3 (T183)), 17–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shivji, I. G. (2009). Accumulation in an African periphery: A theoretical framework. Dar es Salaam: Mkuki na Nyota Publishers Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shule, V. (2010). Beyond socialism: Tanzanian theatre, neoliberalism and foreign aid complexity. Mainz: Ph.D. Dissertation, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanzania Gender Networking Programme. (2011). Transformative feminist movement building in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam: TGNP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, J., & Schechner, R. (2004). Why “Social Theatre”? The Drama Review, 48, 11–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaytzeff, A. (2015). Odile Gakire Katese: Making art & reinventing culture with women. African Theatre: Contemporary Women (pp. 85–96).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Creative Arts, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Vicensia Shule

Authors
  1. Vicensia Shule
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vicensia Shule .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Babcock University , Ilishan Remo, Nigeria

    Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

  2. Department of History, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Toyin Falola

Section Editor information

  1. Women’s Research and Documentation Center (WORDOC), Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Sharon Adetutu Omotoso

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Shule, V. (2019). African Women and Theatre for Development. In: Yacob-Haliso, O., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_52-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_52-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77030-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77030-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference HistoryReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation